To Accept or Not to Accept, That Is the Question or Walking the Tightrope of Guest Approval

[Oksana127]

As hosts, we often find ourselves in the position of gatekeepers, tasked with balancing hospitality and precaution. It’s a delicate dance where we strive to welcome new faces while protecting our homes (and sanity!) from potential missteps.

Here’s a peek into my thought process when a booking request lands in my inbox—especially from a first-time guest with no reviews.

The Optimist’s Dilemma

When I see a request from a guest with no reviews, my first thought is, “Everyone has to start somewhere.” After all, I was once a first-time guest myself. Everyone deserves a chance to create their travel story, right? But optimism quickly gives way to the practical side of hosting.

Local Guests: A Mixed Bag

If the guest is local, I immediately dig deeper. Why would someone from the same city need a rental? Based on experience, it’s usually one of three scenarios:

A romantic getaway (sweet, but is it legit?).

A party hub for a night out (red flag)

A work-related stay (safe, but still worth checking).

The Tell-Tale Signs of Trouble

Several factors immediately raise my eyebrows:

Group Size: More than three people? My inner alarm bells start ringing.

Day of the Week: Fridays and Saturdays are notorious for celebrations turning into chaos.

Purpose of Stay: If their message includes vague reasons like, “We’re just hanging out with friends in the center,” I tread carefully.

The Art of Friendly Interrogation

When in doubt, I strike up a casual conversation in the chat. I ask open-ended yet specific questions, such as:

“Are you visiting for an exhibition or a theater performance?”

“Planning a romantic escape from routine?”

These questions often reveal the true intent behind the booking. A guest genuinely excited about a cultural event or personal milestone will usually share details enthusiastically. Those with questionable plans? They’re usually less forthcoming.

When in Doubt, Trust Your Gut

If I receive a request from a local group of 4-6 people, for a Friday night, with no reviews, and their stated purpose is simply “staying in the center,” I almost always decline. My experience has taught me that this is often a recipe for a party—and parties can lead to damage, noise complaints, and stress for everyone involved.

Opening the Floor to the Community

These are the rules I’ve developed over time, but I’m curious: what criteria do you use to decide whether to accept or decline a booking request? How do you balance giving new guests a chance with protecting your property and peace of mind?

Let’s exchange stories, tips, and lessons learned. After all, we’re all walking the tightrope together.

[Rebecca]

Thank you so much for sharing this on the Community Center, @Oksana127 😊 It's great to hear from experienced hosts, what type of bookings could be red flags 🚩

What do you do if one of your 'alarm bells' goes off? How would you continue with the request? 

@Rose422, @Marisa182 and @Muslim4 - what do you think to these types of bookings? Would add anything else or perhaps do something differently? 🤔

[Marisa182]

@Oksana127  Thanks, Oksana for your excellent post. You have accurately described the host's dilemma. I too am cautious with local guests, guests with no reviews, guests that offer up no information at all when booking, and guests that do provide information of a suspicious nature. I had one such request this past December that I did not feel comfortable accepting, and did decline.

I do wish that Aibnb required guests to provide information on their profile page. There is hardly anything there but where the guest is from, and very often that is not even correct. And trying to get information from guest can be seen as invasion of privacy. I also think that many hosts fear retribution for declining. I do.  Walking a tightrope is right!

[Marcin65]

Hi @Oksana. I read your post with pleasure. My dilemmas ended a few years ago. During the dead season, when there were really few guests, I turned on the "Instant booking" option. It improved my position, added guests, raised the positioning of the listing. For over 5 years, I have already received over 400 guests and only 4 gave negative feedback (I don't want to see you again). I had only one case that ended with the help of AirCover (the guest did not want to pay for the damages). I always try to enter into direct contact with my guest via messages on the AirBnB platform, maybe this helps avoid difficult situations...